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Record
of the Orally Transmitted
Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin
- Ongi Kuden -
Chapter 4: Faith and Understanding [Shinge]
Chapter six of the Hokke Mongu states, "In the Cheng-fa-hua [ching],
this chapter is titled 'Faith and Joy.' While the meaning comes through, 'joy'
is not equal to 'understanding.' This present [chapter] expresses the acceptance
and understanding [of the four great vo.ice-hearers on hearing the teaching of
the one vehicle]. How could 'joy' be most appropriate?"
Among the titles of the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra, this
chapter has the title 'Faith and Understanding.' The three thousand
realms in a single instant arise from the character 'faith.' The
attainment of the Way by all Buddhas of the three existences also derives from
the character 'faith.' This character 'faith' or 'belief'
is a sharp sword that can sever fundamental darkness. As expressed in the
statement, 'Having no doubt is called belief,' faith is a sharp sword to
sever and destroy doubts and delusions. 'Understanding' is another word
for wisdom. Faith is like the price [of a jewel], and wisdom, like the jewel
itself. (Gosho Zenshu p. 72
The single character 'faith' will purchase the wisdom of all Buddhas
of the three existences of past, present and future. 'Wisdom' means Nam
Myoho Renge Kyo. Faith is the cause of wisdom and represents the stage of verbal
identity. Apart from faith, there can be no understanding, and apart from
understanding, there can be no faith. The character 'faith' is defined as
the seed of wonderful enlightenment. Now because Nichiren and his disciples
believe and accept Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, they obtain a great precious jewel, as
stated in the sutra, "This cluster of unsurpassed jewels has come to
us unsought." (LS p.
87, 3LS p. 116) Faith is the
seed of wisdom, and disbelief is the cause for falling into hell. 'Faith'
corresponds to the principle of true being that is unchanging. The reason is
that 'faith' means one arrives at 'understanding that all laws are the
Mystic Law' and believes in this as the single principle of the true aspect.
'Understanding' corresponds to the wisdom of true being that accords with
conditions. It indicates the wisdom of the Buddha of absolute freedom. (Gosho Zenshu p. 725)
Chapter Nine of the Hokke Mongu states, "Having no doubt is
called belief; a clear grasp is called understanding." Chapter Six of
the Hokke Mongu states, "When people of intermediate capacity
heard the Buddha expound the [of the three carts and burning house], their
doubts and confusion were removed, for the first time, and they entered
understanding of the Mahayana Teaching; therefore this is called 'faith.'
Because they advanced in the Mahayana Teaching, that is called 'understanding.'"
The commentary also states, "Here the two words [faith and
understanding] are treated separately with respect to the Mahayana teaching and
applied to 'discerning the Way' and 'cultivating the Way.' Because doubts are
removed, that is 'faith,' and because one further advances, that is
'understanding.' 'Faith' applies to both discerning and cultivating, while
'understanding' only applies to cultivation. Therefore, cultivation of the Way
is called 'understanding.'"
The sutra states, "This is my son, and I in truth am his father.
Now everything that belongs to me, all of my wealth and possessions, shall
belong entirely to this one of mine." I, Nichiren am the father of all the people of Japan. (Gosho Zenshu p. 72
The sutra states, "This
cluster of unsurpassed jewels has come to us unsought." (LS p. 87, 3LS p. 116)
Now from the standpoint of Nichiren and his disciples, 'unsurpassed'
indicates Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, which is most unsurpassed among the unsurpassed.
The sutra speaks of the 'unsurpassed cluster of jewels' to indicate the
Mystic law. [This phrase] means that Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is the treasure in
which are clustered all the beneficial practices and meritorious deeds of all
Buddhas of the three existences. Faith enables us, without painful practices or
merit accumulated through austerities, to receive the peerless treasure through
a single utterance. This is the meaning of '[H]as come to us unsought.' (Gosho Zenshu p. 728)
The sutra states, "Now we have become voice-hearers in truth, for
we will take the voice of the Buddha way and cause it to be heard by all."
Thus, Shariputra expressed his understanding of the Law by saying in [the 3rd] chapter 'listening
to the voice.' 'Listening' means to take faith in the sutra and 'the
voice' indicates the voice and sound of all phenomena which signifies the
Mystic Way. Regarding this voice, [this] chapter states [the above phrase]. 'All'
means humans living in the phenomenal world and 'voice' means Nam
Myoho Renge Kyo.
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